Sunday, August 9, 2009

Mushroom Weather

It rained so much in July I didn't water my garden once. Although the weather kept me inside, I did manage to get in a few walks in the woods (paying for it with chiggers and mosquito bites).

Orange Pinwheel Marasmius (Marasimius rotula)

This tiny mushroom (cap only about 3/8") had just emerged on a slope by the driveway.

When I came back up the driveway after the walk, I noticed a clump of the same mushrooms illuminated by sunlight. They are so cute--they look like you could put one in a mixed drink.

The rainy weather also brought out parasitic plants.

Indian-Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

This plant sprouts up in the mulch around trees. It's probably not hurting anything but feeding on the decaying plant material.

The wet weather also brings out the box turtles. My husband brought this huge box turtle up from the road because he was sure someone would run over it. A few days later, the same turtle was seen near my blackberry patch. I tossed a few blackberries on the ground and he started eating them. So, I rushed in the house to get my camera. Having finished his snack, he was headed into the briars but I think you might still see the blackberry juice on his face!

Wanda--that's interesting about the box turtle being in your blackberry patch too. Maybe they come looking for them too. I will be on the watch for the turtle next year. And, I won't worry about the blackberries I drop, knowing a box turtle would enjoy them.

Thanks for visiting...I took a walk this morning and came across 6 or 7 different tuttles...took photos and will do a post on them later...it must be or weather...have never seen that many on one walk!BTW...my parents are fro Norton, Va. in Wise County.

Our rain, so wonderful in May has pretty much halted for June and July. But it did leave behind its share of insects. I love the turtle. We had one for two years and something happened to it. My husband found the shell in the woods and we miss him.

Dee--the Indian Pipe is a parasitic plant, feeding on the roots on trees and decaying wood. So, I am not sure it has flowers. It darkened and decayed after the photo was taken, much like a mushroom. But, I identified it from my flower plant field guide, not the mushroom guide.